A WYRE Forest woman overcame a crisis of confidence after being caught up in the Asian tsunami to complete the London Marathon.

Karen Harper, 38, of Caunsall, was stranded in the Maldives for a day and a half after the Boxing Day tsunami struck, when survival and escape were the priority and taking part in the world's biggest marathon was the furthest thing from her mind.

Although Miss Harper was grateful for being spared in the disaster that claimed an estimated 217,000 lives, the disruption caused as she recovered from her ordeal cost her six weeks' training as she was preparing for her first marathon.

The self-employed sports therapist seriously considered pulling out before lining up for last Sunday's event, watched by millions on television.

After eventually deciding to take part, Miss Harper went on to finish in a creditable time of six hours and 15 minutes, earning £4,000 in sponsorship for charity.

London's sunshine and cheering crowds were a far cry from the devastation the tsunami left in its wake.

Miss Harper and her partner, business development manager, Niall Hebron, 34, who lives with her in New Road, Caunsall, were a fortnight into a two and a half week holiday on the island of Medafufhi when it was hit by the tsunami.

"We were aware of the water approaching our beach hut," she recalled, "Within a minute, we were five feet deep in water. We climbed on to the wall outside the bedroom and held on to the roof."

They clung on to the roof for 45 minutes before their eventual rescue and managed to get off the island the next day.

"We were very lucky indeed," she admitted.

The shattering experience prompted the couple to take two weeks' leave from work on their return to the UK.

Miss Harper then had to consider whether to opt out of the marathon - for which she had begun training last October - because of all she had been through.

"I had my doubts about whether I could compete," she said, "I lost six weeks' training.

"I had to start again because I had lost a lot of the strength in my legs." She added: "I had lost a lot of self-belief."

She eventually decided to take part, generating sponsorship cash for the Starlight Children's Foundation, which grants wishes for seriously ill children and provides entertainment in hospitals.

Completing the 26-mile marathon course was doubly satisfying for Miss Harper, as it came just a year after she had had her knee rebuilt after snapping her cruciate ligament during a game of racketball.

The encouragement of spectators - including family and friends - lining the marathon course spurred her on towards the finish. Before the marathon, the longest distance she had run was 10 miles.

She said: "It was absolutely fantastic. The atmosphere was unbelievable. People were chanting your name. It was just amazing."